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For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, this is the real Nietzsche (who is the only philosopher worthy of the name since the pre-Socratics). At last he is rescued from the preposterous distortions of some of his English interpreters, primarily the egregious Hollingdale and the even worse Kaufmann.
The book consists largely of wholesale quotations from the man himself, on various themes. I have read enough of N. to know what he is really all about and have seen most of this before, and much more along the same lines as well, but seeing some of these statements laid out in a row like this makes the author's case crystal clear and nearly indisputable. What is astounding is that anyone could have ever taken him any other way. Sometimes the obvious is the most difficult thing to see.
The stuff about the esoteric aspect of the Nazis will also be of some value to those not familiar with the existing literature on the subject, but is almost incidental to the real content of this book, which is to give us the esoteric Nietzsche.
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_Nietzsche, Prophet of Nazism: The Cult of the Superman: Unveiling the Nazi Secret Doctrine_ by Abir Taha is a rather strange book which attempts to argue that Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher of the Superman, was in fact a Nazi (or proto-Nazi). Contrary to previous criticism of Nietzsche in English such as that of Kaufman and Hollingdale, which has presented a softened version of Nietzsche arguing that he was not a Nazi and indeed that his philosophy was in fact perverted by the Nazis, the author of this book contends that these readings are superficial and fail to make several important distinctions which lead to the inevitable conclusion that Nietzsche was in fact a Nazi. This book regards Nazism as having two components, an exoteric component which focused specifically on German nationalism, biological Aryan racism, and anti-Semitism and an esoteric component which focused on elitism, a spiritual form of racism (a racism quite distinct from nationalism in actuality), and a spiritual anti-Semitism. The exoteric component was best exemplified by the S.A. and the esoteric component was best exemplified by the elite of the S.S. In addition, the esoteric component was linked closely with the occult. The author makes two important distinctions which have enabled her to show the superficiality of previous Nietzsche scholarship. The first of these is the distinction between racism and nationalism. While the Nazis were indeed "racial nationalists", it should be noted that they were racists first and this means an international ideology which focuses on the master race and not merely a nationalistic ideology. This can explain Nietzsche's many disparaging comments towards "the Germans", in that he was opposed to the weakness of the German nation but not the superiority of the Aryan race. Secondly, the author disguishes later in the book between two types of anti-Semitism. On the one hand there is the traditional Christian anti-Semitism (which Nietzsche disparages in his writings) and on the other there is the elitist aristocratic anti-Semitism (which Nietzsche advocates). This distinction again shows how Nietzsche's previous writings have been superficially interpreted. The author contends that there have been three possible interpretations of Nietzsche in the past. The first of these is that Nietzsche was indeed a Nazi (advocated by Alfred Bauemler, Nietzsche's sister, Elisabeth Foerster-Nietzsche, and Anthony Ludovici, as well as the Marxist scholar Georg Luckacs). The second is that Nietzsche was partly Nazi (advocated by Crane Brinton, Arthur Knight, and William Bluhm). The third is that Nietzsche was anti-Nazi (advocated by Walter Kaufman, George Morgan, the Marxist scholar H. Lefebvre, and Karl Jaspers). Those in the anti-Nazi camp claim that Nietzsche's anti-nationalism, his opposition to the Germans, his opposition to the anti-Semites, and his anti-statism make him contrary to the Nazis. However, as the author shows in this book, these understandings of Nietzsche are mistaken and based on a superficial understanding of Nazism (failing to recognize the distinction between the exoteric and esoteric Nazi doctrines).
The author begins this book by noting the role of the Superman (or Ubermensch) in Nietzsche's philosophy and bringing to light the revival of Aryan paganism. The advent of the Superman or "God-man" had long been hoped for across the myths of all traditional cultures, and this ideal was merely given form by Nietzsche's philosophy and later by the Nazis. The author notes the role of paganism in esoteric Nazism (emphasizing the writings of individuals such as Hitler, Himmler, and Rosenberg) as well as in the philosophy of Nietzsche. The goal of Nazism appears to have been the breeding of the Aryan "God-man" or Superman as advocated by Nietzschean philosophy. The author also notes the role of Greece in both Nazi belief and in Nietzschean philosophy, emphasizing for example the role of the titan Prometheus, believed to be the progenitor of the Aryan race. The author also discusses the Aryan myth and the role of Atlantis in the creation of that myth. The author also distinguishes between the Aryan Christ and the Judeo-Christian conception of Christ, as seen in both the philosophies of Nietzsche and Nazism. The author also notes the role of the dread eternal recurrence in Nietzschean philosophy. Next the author turns her attention to morality, and the role of Nietzsche as immoralist who sought to go beyond good and evil, and thus a progenitor of Nazism. The author notes the hatred of Nietzsche and the Nazis for the Judeo-Christian foundation of modern civilization. Both sought eagerly the death of God and his replacement by the Aryan Superman. As immoralist, Nietzsche sought to overcome all "slave morality" to adopt "master morality" by transvaluating all values. The same idea was carried out by the Nazis in the way they embraced radical evil. In addition, the author discusses Nietzsche's conception of the Will to Power, showing how this conception played out in the worship of the Will by the Nazis. The author next turns her attention to the aristocratic worldview, emphasizing Nietzsche's and the Nazi's elitism and hatred for the herd. The author shows both the hatred of Nietzsche and the Nazis for socialism, liberalism, and humanism, the values of the herd. The author shows how both Nietzsche and the Nazis advocated the extermination of the weak and unfit while at the same time advocating a system of eugenics to breed the Aryan Superman. This emphasis upon a cult of blood was to play out in the worst horrors of the Nazi Third Reich regime. Finally, the author turns her attention to Nietzsche's anti-Semitism, showing the distinction between Nietzsche's anti-Semitism in regarding the Jews as a race (the ultimate decadents) to be exterminated and earlier anti-Semitism which regarded the Jews as a religion. While Nietzsche attacked those weaker anti-Semites who came before him, as was seen by scholars such as Kaufman, he also advocated a more pronounced form of anti-Semitism which led to the creation of the Nazi state.
This book offers an interesting reading of Nietzsche's philosophy and an interpretation of it which is sure not to please many in academia. While I believe the author leaves out much, such as Nietzsche's break with Wagner or many of his personal letters, this book nevertheless provides an interesting take on Nietzsche's radical aristocratic philosophy. In any event, it offers a unique study of Nietzsche independently of many of his modern interpreters.
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Friedrich Nietzsche is probably best known as the philosopher who "killed" God. However, Abir Taha offers a new vision of him, one that involves the Nazi occult thought, which she details in her groundbreaking new book, Nietzsche, Prophet of Nazism: The Cult of the Superman; Unveiling the Nazi Secret Doctrine.
"From times immemorial, humanity has dreamt of creating the perfect man, the `God-man' or `Superman'. Yet this cult was only clearly expressed in the philosophy of its modern prophet, Nietzsche, and culminated in its fiercest supporter, the National Socialist ideology, a political religion whose main ideal and objective were the creation of a superman species," Taha says.
Her book, Nietzsche, Prophet of Nazism, unveils what she calls "The Nazi Secret Doctrine" or "Esoteric Nazism." According to Taha, this doctrine is "purely Nietzschean in character." Through her book, she draws a clear distinction between the hidden Hitlerian thought, which was "aristocratic, supra-national, spiritual and universal," and the "exoteric, popular, vulgar version of Nazism," which was based on Pan-German nationalism, socialism and racism. Taha reveals the "spiritual pagan Aryanism" she found inherent in both doctrines.
By taking this stance, Taha has created a unique, intelligent and innovative portrayal of Nietzsche and the Nazis because the book shows both the real Nazi doctrine, which "goes beyond nationalism and biological racism," as well as Nietzsche's "hidden eugenicist, spiritual and universal Aryanism." Taha explains each in detail while establishing a clear, direct link between these two doctrines by analyzing Nazism in the light of Nietzsche's philosophy. From religious beliefs to views on power, morality and superiority, the book exposes the seams that Taha believes hold the two ideologies together in world history.
A unique portrayal of the link between one of the most controversial philosophers and one of the most enigmatic political groups in history, Nietzsche, Prophet of Nazism reveals the depths of the spiritual, racial and political dynamics of their philosophies and the impact they have had on the world.
For more information, visit the book's web site.
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